Overview
- The CCEA cleared two highway projects worth Rs 20,668 crore, including the Nashik–Solapur–Akkalkot corridor in Maharashtra and the NH‑326 widening in Odisha.
- Spanning 374 km, the access-controlled route will be built on BOT (Toll) with a 20-year concession and will include 27 major bridges, 164 minor bridges and a 5.6 km viaduct.
- Construction will begin after 90% land is available, with authorities indicating land acquisition and environmental approvals are largely in place and an expected build time of about two years.
- The corridor is projected to cut travel distance by roughly 201 km and reduce journey time by about 45%, linking to the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway, the Agra–Mumbai corridor and the Samruddhi Mahamarg.
- Officials forecast substantial economic gains, estimating 251.06 lakh man‑days of direct work and 313.83 lakh man‑days indirectly, with improved links to ports, airports, rail hubs and NICDC nodes at Kopparthy and Orvakal.